Apparatus for electric welding



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. THOMSON.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC WELDING.

No. 347,141. Patented Aug. 10, 1886-.

IN VEMOR fizz-40%. W

A T? DRIVE Y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. THOMSON.

APPARATUS FOR swarm WELDING. No. 347,141. Patgnted Aug. 10. 1886.

WITNESSES 1N VEN TOR zgyw/ ga/ mdm I 362 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHU THOMSON, OF LYNN, MASSAllIUSlD'lTS.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC WELDING.

PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,141, dated August 10. 1886.

Application tiled March 20, 18: 6. Serial No 197,078. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIHUTn'oMsoN, a citizen ol' the United States, and a resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Mas sach usetts, havcinvcnted a certain new and useful Apparatus for Electric \Velding, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for the practice of a new process or art of welding by electricity, which forms thesubiect ot' a separate application for patent.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the operation and provide for its control.

It consists of a regulable source of current provided with an induction apparatus, to be presently described, and also of a means for easily clamping the pieces to be welded and of setting them in position.

Figure 1 shows my improved ap 'iaratus; Fig. 2,11 clamp for quick work in clamping and unclamping pieces to bc joincd and that have been joined or welded. Fig. 3 shows the term of one of the ICll'lOViLblB clamping-blocks for wire; Fig. 4, another View of the same; Fig. 5, a stop for insuring proper placing of the pieces to be jointed. Fig. 6 is another view ofthc same. Fig. 7 is one example of the work that can be accomplished. Fig. 8 shows another example of the same.

A B, Fig. 1, are wires leading from a source of alternating electric-currents to the coil of insulated wire P, wound arounda ring-shaped iron core, F F, as shown. The coil 1? has a number of turns, depending on the electro-motive force and current supplied to it, its convolutions being usually numerous when used with average clectro-motive forces and currentstrcngth. Theconnection ofAandBtoPis made so that a variable resistance, R, (or the equivalent may be substituted for it,) may be inserted in greater or less amount, so as to vary the force of the primary circuit-current in the coil 1?, and the switch Z permits of rupturing such circuit at will. Around the same iron core F F are also wound a few turns of heavy copper cable S, giving an almost inappreciable electrical resistance. The ends of the secondary coil are attached each to one of a pair of clamp-bearing arms or blocks, L L, of good conducting metal, relatively placed and guided so as to have only a slight move- .the aid of the plate 0 or without it,

iillar borne by L at l5 and iassinp; throu 'h L i I" aholein L. A nut, N, and compressedspring strung on said pillar permit: said pillar to laused for drawing arms L 1/ toward each other with a pressure depending on the position of the nut N. The clamps li Ii are placed opposite one another on arms I) l), respectively, and a screw, ll. serves as needed to three arms I} l/ apart and hold them so separated. 'lhe clamps l\' K are made so as to hold in place the replaceahledivided dies or sleeves for bolding wires or other pieces near the point. of welding or juncture.

In order to manipulate the clamps rapidly, they are preferably made as in l'lLI. 2, where the body K. is hinged to Land lhel'reeentl arranged to be set or clamped by a movable clump-screw in aswinginp t'rame, l l, as shown.

The dotted lines show the parts nnl'astcned. The removable parts surrmnnline; the wire or bar to be welded are like Figs. 3 and 4, and are made of copper or other good conductor in halves, the size of internal borebcing nearly equal to the dimensions of the bar to be clamped, and such bore is somewhat counter sunk, preferably at the end where the wires, \V \V, to be jointed are abutted at J, Fig. 1. The wires or bars W \Vshonld be set project ing a little from the clamp-blocks when abutted, and to secure this I have devised a stopplate, 0, Fig. 5, for insertion between the clamping-blocks K K, as indicated, such plate 0 having a thin portion against which the wires may be abutted, and a thicker portion immediately above for insertion between the clamp-blocks, so as to determine their distance apart during the insertion of the wires. The removalof O leaves the wires free to abut and yet project some little distance from the clamps.

Fig. 6 shows the stop-plate O on its flat side, while in Fig. 1' it is seen edgewise.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The wires or bars W \V, of iron, steel, German silver, brass, copper or its alloys, 850., having been inserted into the clamps by and the screw B, Fig. 1, turned back, so as not to interfcre with the approach of L L, under the action of the spring under the nut N, the switch Z is momentarily closed to permit alternating currents to low in coil P. There results very heavy currents in S, which traverse the junction or abutted ends of W \V, projecting from the clamps. The immediate result is partial fusion of such ends and union into one piece by the force of the spring under N. Suitable adjustments of current and elastic pressure are readily made to suit the size of bars or wires and their conducting-power, so as to fuse or electrically weld them. Joints of steel with steel or iron are thus easily formed, or with German silver or brass, or of brass with brass, or with iron, steel, or Ger man silver, &c.

Other means of regulating the current given out by S may be used, some of which are indicated in Figs. 9, 10, 11,12, and 13.

In Fig. 9 the iron core F is divided, and one portion is made movable toward and from the other, so as to more or less completely close the magnetic circuit of the core by a regulating-screw, It, or the like.

In Fig. 10 the core has another coil, S',wou nd on it, in the circuit of which a variable resistance, it, may beinscrted as needed. This coil S, when on short circuit, will nearly neutralixe any ellect in S, but when on open circuit will give to S its full power, and with varying resistances in its circuits the current induced in S will vary. Its effect is similar to placing a closed tube of copper of greater or less di mensions around the core or parallel to the secondary In Fig. 11 the core I is made movable in and out of the axis of S, to vary the current generating inductive currents in S.

In Figs. 12 and 13 the core F is surrounded by the primary coil 1, as shown, and is of such diameter that a single bandof copper, S, alone forms the secondary, and whose position as regards the coil P and core F may be changed from the maximum position shown to any other. In this case the halves of the band S can also replace the arms L L by hinging them, as shown, and providing a flexible cable connection or shunt, 0, around the hinge-joint. The wires W \V, or bars to be jointed, are held abutted by clamp-screws, and are pressed together by an adjustable elastic spring, V, which is prevented from making connection between the separated ends of the band S by insulation, as at E.

Other methods of regulating the discharge of currents may be used, and my invention is not limited in such particular.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1.. In an apparatus for electric jointing r welding, a source of heavy currents and men s for regulating the same, in combination with devices for holding the pieces to be welded and with a means of impartinga pressure tenuing to force such pieces together.

2. In an apparatus for electric jointing or welding, the combination, with devices ft holding pieces to be welded, of a coil wound upon an iron core and connected withasource of electricity, a secondary coil or circuit f low resistance, connections from said secondary coil to the holding devices, and means for varying the magneticinductive effects of the core upon the secondary, as and for the pur pose described.

3. In an apparatus for electricjointing or welding, the combination, with devices for holding the pieces to be welded, of an ind no tion apparatus wound with two coils, one of low resistance as compared with the other, connections from the low-resistance coil to the holding devices, and a source oi electric current connected with the coil of comparatively high resistance.

--i. The combination, with the clampingblocks and means for connecting the same with a source of elect ricity, of a stop-plate, 0, having a thin portion, against which the parts to be welded may be abutted, and a thicker portion, against which the clamp-blocks may abut, so as to determine their distance apart in the operation of i nscrting parts to be welded.

5. In an apparatus for electric welding, a. regulable source of current of electricity and means of passing the same through the pieces to be welded and across their surfaces of contact, in combination with means for, exerting a regulable pressure upon such surfaces, as described.

6. An apparatus for electric welding, consisting of a primary coil fed by alternating currents, means for regulating the effect of said currents upon the secondary coil in inductive relation thereto, clamps for holding the pieces to be joined, so as to contact with each other at the point of j unction, and means for pressing said pieces together at the point of junction, as described.

Signed at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of lilassachusctts, this 23d day of March, A. D. 1886.

ELIHU THOMSON.

\Vitnesses:

W. O. WAKEFIELD, F. H. KITFIELD 

